2. Lorenzo White vs. 15. Xavier Tillman Sr.

Lorenzo White is–flatly–the greatest running back in the history of Michigan State football. It’s not close. The record books are all Lorenzo White, followed by a cadre of really good running backs. He is a two-time All-American and twice was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore and was the star player on the 1987 Rose Bowl winning team. He’s a college football hall of famer and was recently enshrined in the MSU ring of honor. For a generation of Spartan fans, he is the face of MSU football.

He takes on Xavier Tillman Sr. Recency bias makes me feel like Tillman is under-seeded–and maybe he is by a couple spots. Tillman was a key reserve-turned-starter on the 2019 Final Four team and was the second most valuable player down the stretch for MSU behind Cassius Winston. His junior season was excellent as well, as he won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a bunch of other all-conference type awards. Longevity probably knocks Tillman a bit and if he stays for his senior season at MSU and they make a run, he flies up this list. But the damn coronavirus robbed Tillman at a second tournament run to help him move up the list.

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